“Exactly.”
“Stop saying exactly,” I say, all pissy.
She just huffs and rolls her eyes at me. “Lucy wants to see what else is out there. She’s going to college in the fall.”
“An hour away,” I cut in. “We don’t have to break up for her to go to college.”
“You’re missing the point.”
“It’s not fair. She doesn’t need space from you, and she and you have been friends longer than her and me.”
She parks the Gator up by the barn and hops out, her red braids swinging over her shoulders, falling almost to her belly button. She’s wearing her overalls and a white tank top today—one of her favorite farm outfits. “You sound like a whiny baby.”
I climb out of the Gator, a glare pinned on her because I know she’s right, and I don’t like being like this. But what the hell? I don’t get it.
“Just give her time.”
“And space,” I grit out, annoyed. My boots scuff against the already-scorched earth. It’s barely June, and we haven’t had rain in weeks. I stare at the dirt when I ask, “You think she’s seeing someone?”
“What I think is she has big dreams. Always has. She always wanted out of Kensley.” My head snaps up to meet Millie’s eyes,ready to argue, but her expression says not to. “You didn’t want to hear it. She’s talked about it for a long time.”
“That’s...” I stumble over my words, trying to think back over every conversation I’ve ever had with Lucy. I could have sworn we wanted the same things. I mean, I know she wanted to go to college, and I definitely don’t want that, but I always thought she wanted to come back here afterward.
Settle down. Start our family.
Millie’s small hand lands on my shoulder, and there’s that kicked puppy look she reserves just for me. “Maybe she does want to date in college. You can’t blame her. You were her first and only.”
“Is that so fucking bad?” I ask irritably. “She was mine too.” I keep my voice down low, like it’s a secret, though in a town like Kensley, I can pretty much guarantee it’s not.
“No, it’s not bad.” She removes her hand, her eyes sympathetic. “It’s just, maybe she wants to date a different type of guy.”
“Gee thanks, Mills. This conversation has been great.”
Her big eyes roll at me, and she shakes her head, exasperated. “I didn’t say better. I said different. Something different from what she knows. From what she can find around here.”
“So some big-city douchebag,” I grumble.
Her mouth parts to open, but she’s distracted, and so am I by a small blue car creeping up the driveway—a car I’ve never seen here before. I instinctively tuck Millie behind me.
I hear her huff as she shoves my arm and stands right by my side while the car parks. “Who the hell is that?” I ask.
Millie shrugs. “No idea. Don’t think they belong here though.”
She couldn’t be more right about that. Talk about big-city douchebags. The occupant of the car climbs out reluctantly, hiseyes roaming over the large white country house in front of him with disdain like I’ve never seen before.
What the hell is his problem?
He must be lost.
He definitely isn’t from around here. The guy is wearing tight skinny jeans with a couple of rips in them—but for sure not from hard work. No. These are the types of jeans people spend hundreds of dollars on to look like they tore them. His shirt is a button-down like he’s going to church or something, but the sleeves are rolled up to the elbows. Like maybe that’s going to help him stay cool.
It’s almost a hundred degrees, and it’s not even noon.
His shoes are fucking ridiculous. Don’t even get me started on them. White sneakers, but they don’t have a hint of dirt on them, and again, they look like they cost more than my car. For no reason at all. They’re tennis shoes, but I can see a designer label on them.
“You lost?” Either he didn’t see us or didn’t think he needed to acknowledge us because his head snaps in our direction with his bright red lips in a disgusted snarl at the sound of my voice.
“I’m looking for Kelly Wright.” I don’t trust this guy. I can’t explain it, but everything about him has me on high alert.
